Lucianna
opening up. “Good morning, Father. You actually look rested this morning.”
    “I said my piece. Your mother said hers, and then I told her I would not argue the point, so I went to bed,” he explained. “Where is your brother, Lucianna?”
    “It is Monday,” she explained. “Marco does not come into the shop until after ten o’clock on Mondays.”
    “That will change,” Master Pietro d’Angelo said grimly. “You will not yet have spoken to him, then.”
    She shook her head. “But I will.”
    When Marco finally arrived, he was surprised to find his father in the shop. He greeted them both, announcing, “I cannot remain long today, Lucianna. I am taking Clarinda to the races.”
    “You are a shop merchant,” his father said. “You do not have time to take your mistress to the races, Marco. Do you suddenly think you are a Medici, that you may lollygag about?”
    “I promised her, Father, and besides, Lucianna is always here for those seeking silks,” Marco said, and she could see her father was very angry with her brother’s words.
    “But shortly I will not be here, Brother,” she told him. “What will you do then?”
    “What? Why will you not be here? I depend upon you, Lucianna. You cannot leave me.”
    “I have been chosen by the guild to represent them in London. A small shop is being opened in which to display the fine silks of Florence. That way the London merchants may see our wares and order directly from us, rather than travel here. The Milanese are also opening a shop.”
    “A woman?” Marco was surprised. “Why can they not send a man? It’s unheard of for a woman to go. Tell them no!”
    Lucianna laughed. “I am very honored to have been chosen, and I am excited to go, Brother. The greatest benefit, of course, will be to get away from our mother’s constant matchmaking and carping. You should also know that Luca will be leaving the military and coming with me to England to learn our trade.”
    “But I can’t do this without you,” he said, ignoring most of her words. Then he realized she had said Luca would be with her.
Luca?
    She laughed again. “You can’t do it at all, Marco, but you must learn, Brother, for this is how Father earns the living for our family. He will come back into the shop and teach you while I am teaching Luca in London.”
    “But Clarinda . . .” he said. Luca giving up the military for silk? What was that all about? Then he considered Clarinda again.
    “If she is not content to see you as other mistresses are, my son, she must learn. If she loves you, she will learn. Now, about your wages,” Giovanni said.
    “I will take my leave of you now,” Lucianna told them. “I have much packing to do with Balia, so I will bid you both a good day.” She absolutely did not want to be around when Marco learned what their father had decided. He would be furious. Helpless to change it, but furious nonetheless. She curtsied to both men, departing the silk shop quickly for the last time.

Chapter 5

    I t was difficult to restrain her laughter as she left the two men. She could only imagine her brother’s shock to learn his wages would now be given to his wife, and that she was instructed to give him but a small portion of coin for himself. Poor Clarinda, but she was a beautiful young girl and would find another protector quickly. Marco would now be forced to keep his mind on his business.
    Balia was busily packing when she arrived home. “I do not know how cold it is in this England,” she said.
    “Not as warm in the summer as we are, and perhaps a bit colder in the winters,” Lucianna told her. “At least that is what Roberto said.
    “Pack everything. What we do not need, we will store away. There are a few small bits of furniture that are mine that I would take. And I will take my own china and crystal with me, as well as my bedding and pillows. Is there anything else, Balia?”
    “I do not think so, but if there is, I will pack it. Your father is

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